Wickwire Gallery closure is personal for family

Geoffrey JonesBe Our Guest Columnist

Published: Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 8:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 8:56 a.m.

On May 31st, Wickwire Gallery closed its doors forever, after 16 years on Main Street. Walking by the gallery recently after a great meal downtown, my wife and I were stunned to see the sign in the window announcing the closing date.

Shirley Palmer Hill and her husband, Dave Hill, have been longtime proprietors of our favorite Hendersonville store, and they will be greatly missed. The building that houses the gallery has been sold, and the new owner plans to open another business on the site.

The irony of the gallery surviving the recession only to be forced out by the sale of the building is a bitter pill. News of another Main Street Hendersonville business closing down would not ordinarily be surprising, as the recession has certainly taken its toll on the small business owner.

For my family, the Wickwire Gallery closure is personal. Their slogan, “Where the Heart Finds Art,” said it all.

When we moved to Hendersonville in 2005, Shirley was one of the first people I met. Desperate to appease my 6-month-old daughter while dining out, I left our table and wandered into Wickwire next door. Shirley greeted us with her usual warmth and curiosity. When she discovered I had just moved to town with my wife and two small children, she leaned in and whispered how happy she was to see more young families settling in town.

After that first chance meeting, we hardly ever came to Main Street without stopping in to say hello to Shirley, Dave and their wonderfully caring staff. Our kids quickly learned that a visit to Wickwire meant a mint candy or a rubber frog finger puppet.

Wickwire may have dealt in fine art, but it was always welcoming and never pretentious. The Wickwire folks were ever eager to talk about a new local artist, or invite us to a Friday night opening, complete with wine and live music.

We collected pieces here and there, and bought countless gifts for friends and family. Special occasions between my wife and I became a reason to celebrate with art from Wickwire. Most of it is not very expensive, but it is all priceless to our family’s history.

We came to Hendersonville to live and work in a small town, where we could raise our kids to appreciate the joys of community. Team ECCO, Kilwin’s, The Hands On! museum, West First Pizza, Mast General and other shops make our Main Street special.

This is no suburban shopping mall, and these establishments represent the livelihoods of our friends and neighbors. We patronize those businesses because we know who owns them, and how hard they work to make them successful. Another nearby business owner commented on how much Shirley had done for the Main Street business community in her many years downtown.

The loss of Wickwire is a loss for the little guys, who see one of their own packing up and moving on. Yes, Shirley and Dave could have found another store, as many in similar situations have done. They considered it, and decided it was more than they wanted to take on. Who can blame them?

During their final weeks, I went in to pick up a few gifts during the Garden Jubilee (another favorite of mine) and the place was packed. It was not the appropriate time or place to say goodbye, but I was certainly not alone in my sorrow. Patron after patron came to the counter to tell Shirley and Dave how much they would be missed. Shirley looked on the verge of tears more than once, and I could have easily joined her. A little piece of our small mountain town paradise is no more.

I still have my eye on a particular photograph of the WNC mountains in all their glory. I know I can still find the piece I am looking for somewhere else, but it just won’t be the same. So, to the new owners of the building which was once graced by Wickwire, welcome to the neighborhood. I don’t plan to avoid your business in protest, but you should know how special the previous tenants are. I wish you well, since your success will continue to make Hendersonville my kind of town.

To Shirley and Dave, on behalf of your loyal patrons, fellow business owners, and community, I say thanks for the Wickwire memories. You were a class act.

<p>On May 31st, Wickwire Gallery closed its doors forever, after 16 years on Main Street. Walking by the gallery recently after a great meal downtown, my wife and I were stunned to see the sign in the window announcing the closing date.</p><p>Shirley Palmer Hill and her husband, Dave Hill, have been longtime proprietors of our favorite Hendersonville store, and they will be greatly missed. The building that houses the gallery has been sold, and the new owner plans to open another business on the site.</p><p>The irony of the gallery surviving the recession only to be forced out by the sale of the building is a bitter pill. News of another Main Street Hendersonville business closing down would not ordinarily be surprising, as the recession has certainly taken its toll on the small business owner.</p><p>For my family, the Wickwire Gallery closure is personal. Their slogan, “Where the Heart Finds Art,” said it all.</p><p>When we moved to Hendersonville in 2005, Shirley was one of the first people I met. Desperate to appease my 6-month-old daughter while dining out, I left our table and wandered into Wickwire next door. Shirley greeted us with her usual warmth and curiosity. When she discovered I had just moved to town with my wife and two small children, she leaned in and whispered how happy she was to see more young families settling in town.</p><p>After that first chance meeting, we hardly ever came to Main Street without stopping in to say hello to Shirley, Dave and their wonderfully caring staff. Our kids quickly learned that a visit to Wickwire meant a mint candy or a rubber frog finger puppet.</p><p>Wickwire may have dealt in fine art, but it was always welcoming and never pretentious. The Wickwire folks were ever eager to talk about a new local artist, or invite us to a Friday night opening, complete with wine and live music.</p><p>We collected pieces here and there, and bought countless gifts for friends and family. Special occasions between my wife and I became a reason to celebrate with art from Wickwire. Most of it is not very expensive, but it is all priceless to our family's history.</p><p>We came to Hendersonville to live and work in a small town, where we could raise our kids to appreciate the joys of community. Team ECCO, Kilwin's, The Hands On! museum, West First Pizza, Mast General and other shops make our Main Street special.</p><p>This is no suburban shopping mall, and these establishments represent the livelihoods of our friends and neighbors. We patronize those businesses because we know who owns them, and how hard they work to make them successful. Another nearby business owner commented on how much Shirley had done for the Main Street business community in her many years downtown.</p><p>The loss of Wickwire is a loss for the little guys, who see one of their own packing up and moving on. Yes, Shirley and Dave could have found another store, as many in similar situations have done. They considered it, and decided it was more than they wanted to take on. Who can blame them?</p><p>During their final weeks, I went in to pick up a few gifts during the Garden Jubilee (another favorite of mine) and the place was packed. It was not the appropriate time or place to say goodbye, but I was certainly not alone in my sorrow. Patron after patron came to the counter to tell Shirley and Dave how much they would be missed. Shirley looked on the verge of tears more than once, and I could have easily joined her. A little piece of our small mountain town paradise is no more.</p><p>I still have my eye on a particular photograph of the WNC mountains in all their glory. I know I can still find the piece I am looking for somewhere else, but it just won't be the same. So, to the new owners of the building which was once graced by Wickwire, welcome to the neighborhood. I don't plan to avoid your business in protest, but you should know how special the previous tenants are. I wish you well, since your success will continue to make Hendersonville my kind of town.</p><p>To Shirley and Dave, on behalf of your loyal patrons, fellow business owners, and community, I say thanks for the Wickwire memories. You were a class act.</p><p><i>Geoffrey Jones </p><p>Hendersonville</i></p>